Flamengo Eyes Perfect Group Stage Finish as LAFC Bows Out Early

Flamengo is aiming to complete a flawless group stage run as they face an already-eliminated LAFC tonight, according to AS. While the Brazilian side has been among the top performers of the tournament, and managed to secure qualification to the knockout stages with a game to spare, the American team exits the competition with nothing left to play for.

Under the guidance of Filipe Luís, Flamengo has impressed with a balanced and effective attack. Goals have come from multiple sources—De Arrascaeta, Luis Araújo, Danilo, Wallace Yan, and Bruno Henrique. The latter, at 34, continues to play a key role off the bench and was praised by his coach as a club legend. Henrique, along with Gerson and Danilo, earned a spot in FIFA’s team of the matchday, while Wesley remains the focus of attention for Italian clubs.

The only concern for Flamengo lies with Nicolás De la Cruz. The Uruguayan midfielder is still recovering from a knee injury. Although he trained last week, he missed yesterday’s session and will undergo further medical evaluations to assess his condition for the upcoming stages.